It had only moved about 12 inches from the edge of the road bordering the Mill Brook.

Its chances of making it across a 2 lane highway at 9 AM were zero.

I was able to reach across the guard rail and pick up the turtle and toss it back into the brook about 10 feet away. It landed with a splash and lived to swim on.

Ellen and I sauntered on our morning walk glad that we will not see the remains of that turtle where I first saw it live on Cambridge Turnpike.

Three days later we are again making our rounds on Hawthorne Lane at its Mill Brook crossing area and I saw a short wet log on the edge of the road abutting the brook.

Then I realized it was a fat snapping turtle (12 inch diameter) fresh from the water and probably looking to build a nest and lay her eggs. It is that time of year, happens every year.

Three years ago a similar sized snapping turtle was found in our back yard garden by my son-in-law Tony. When he picked it up it screamed and clawed like an angry mother. Tony carefully set the turtle on the ground and it headed off to the Mill Brook tributary that borders the garden.

Note to self: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PICK UP A 12 INCH SNAPPING TURTLE, YOU COULD LOSE A FINGER.